Windmill



(N0 Model.) Y

E. B. SMITH.

WINDMILL.

No. 255,545. Patented M51, 21,1852.

I?? We n m2? UNTTED STATES PATENT Ormea.

EDWARD B. SMITH, OF RICHLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNASSIGNMENTS, TO Y THE IONIA MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF IONIA, MICHIGAN.

WINDMILL.

SPCIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent'No. 255,345, dated March 21, 1852. Application tiled July 30, 18S1. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, EDWARD B. SMITH, of Richland, Kalamazoo county, in the State cf Michigan, have invented certain new and user ful Improvements in Vindmills', of which the j the force of the wind to the quarter toward which the wind isblowing.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my improvements, Figure l is a side elevation of the main part of a windmill. Fig. 2 is aI zo plan or top view of thc same, and Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are views of detached parts of the structure.

My invention consists inA certain improve-` ments in the governor mechanism of what I z5 Will call folding windmills.

Fig. 5 shows an irregular-sh aped main fra-me or casting, I, which rotates upon a centrally arranged hollow pivot, (better shown in Fig. 2,) and rests upon a collar, H, which is supported 3o upon the cap G. The rudder-stem B projects forward of the point of attachment, and is hinged about its middle,instead of at its inner end, and to'one side 'of the main casting, in such a manner that the vane or rudder will 5 be at one side of the vertical and'horizontal axis of the wheel. At the forward end ot' the stem so elongated an adjustable pendulous regulating-weight, t, is applied, being suspended by a curved arm, D, from the' forward part of .to the main casting, and connected with the forward projecting end of the rudder-stem by means of the link C. This link is adjustable upon the arm D, as shown in Fig. 6, for the purpose and -in such a manner as ordinarily to keep the vane or rudder nearly parallel with the horizontal axis ot' the wind-wheel when in use.

I employ in connection with the eccentrically-arran ged rudder,.with its elongated stem and regulntingweight, the rope or chain r and 5o the lever E, (havingits lower arm, e, curved so as to bring the end opposite to a pulley-slot in the middle of the back of the main easting,) ,connecting-chain t', pulley m, brake a, and circular metallic brake-handy, for the purpose ot' 55 throwing the edge of the wheel to the windI` fand stopping the rotary motion ot' the windwheel when not desired to be used.

The object of the above-described arrange,- ment of parts is to enable the rudder and the 6'o wind-wheel to be readily brought around to a position parallel, or nearly so, with each other by the wind or by hand when it is not desired to have the mill operate, and to enable them to return to their original position.` In their normal positions the wheel sets nearly ata right angle to the sides of the rudder, presenting its face at a slight angle to the wind. It' the wind increases in force beyond a certain velocity, the vane will remain substantially in 7o line with the wind, and the wheel will incline to the direction ot' the wind more or less,'ac cording to the force of the wind. It the velocity of the wind becomes so great as to endanger the mechanism, the edge of the wheel will be presented to the wind, and its face and the sides of the. rudder will be brought nearly parallel, and the rotary motion will cease or be maintained only at a moderate speed. By this mechanism an even steady rotary motion of the 8o wheel is secured which is substantially unaffected by temporary gusts or lulls ot' wind, and the mill is hung so evenly balanced upon itsy cap as to prevent any sagging of the rudder.

.Upon the forward part ot' the main casting is 85.

tixed the bumper y, Fig. 2, which meets the end ot' the stem as the wheel springs back into the wind and prevents its passing beyond its proper angle without shock or disarrangement ofthe other parts. 9o

Figs. 3 and 4 show the end of the brake provided with an adjustable covering stiffened by the spiral spring and plunger, as shown. This brake is attached to both arms of the lever E, which is attached to a chain passing over the pulley m and extending down through the hpllow pivot, so that pulling upon this chain throws the rudder around and brings the end of the brake-lever in contact with the brake-band, and thusstops the rotary motion ot' the wheel. Whenever the mill is folded, so to speak, the pendulous weight is raised. If the folding is caused by the action of the wind in blowing with violence, (and also ifcaused by hand,) thc more the wheel is turned out ot' the wind the higher the weight rises and the greater force it exerts, tending to swing the rudder and the horizontal axis ofthe wheel into nearly the same line-in other words, tending to bring the wheel-face to the wind. Being applied in the manner shown, the weight acts with great delicacy and efficiency to automatically regulate the velocity of rotation of the wind-wheel. As the rudder and face of the wheel do not ordinarily in practice stand (when the wind is blowing and the mill in operation) exactly at right angles, but with the wheel slightly inclined to the wind, no side vane is necessary to turn the wheel outof the wind.

I am aware that self-regulating windmills operated by hinged rudders and regulatingweights are common, and have been for a long time in use, but I am not aware that the device having the stem of the vane project forward of its hinge, and the vane hinged at one side of' the vertical and horizontal axis of the wind-wheel,andapendulous regulating-Weight applied to the end of the elongated rudderstem, combined together, has ever before been used.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ot' the United States, is

1. In a windmill constructed and arranged as above described, the combination of elongated rudder-stem B, pendulum-weight D t, connecting-rod C, bumperQ ,connecting-chain fi, lever E c, brake a, circular brake-handy, rope or chain r, and pulley m, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of the rudder-stem B, pivoted about its middle and projecting forward and to one side of the vertical axis ofthe wind-wheel, pendulous weight D t, constructed as described, and applied to the forward end of the stem, as set forth, and connecting-rod U, with the main supporting frame or casting, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the rudder-stem B, pcndulous weight D t, connectingrod C, and bumper y with the main supporting frame or casting, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of lever E e', pulley m, brake a, chain yr, and metallic circular brakebandf, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination of the cap G, collar U, main casting I, rudderstem B, pivoted about its middle and projecting forward and to one side of the vertical axis of the wind-wheel, pendnlous weightD t, constructed asdescribed, and applied to the forward end of the stem and connecting-rod C, substantially as set forth.

EDWARD B. SMITH'.

Witnesses: t

C. H. NEWCOMB, WM. PRosEUs. 

